THUNDER BAY - A clothing assistance program that has been running for 15 years is looking to the community to help children in need.
Community Clothing Assistance is launching the 15th annual Undercover Project, which provides seven pairs of new socks for and underwear for children between the ages of four and 14-years-old.
According to Community Clothing Assistance, one in five children in the city of Thunder Bay lives in poverty.
Demand for the program continues to grow and in 2019 more than 1,000 children benefited from the Undercover Project.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is making the need for essential items for those living in poverty even more vital.
“The short-term benefits are to provide immediate help, increase comfort, dignity, self-confidence and happiness,” said Executive Director Ewa Gulbinowicz. “The long-term benefit is the self-perception and community inclusion.”
Community Clothing Assistance works in partnership with the Christmas Cheer Fund, who insert vouchers for the undergarment sets into their holiday hampers.
The hampers are offered to families experiencing poverty in Thunder Bay. These vouchers are then redeemed at CCA for the appropriate undergarments. Vouchers are accepted from December to the end of August the following year.
Businesses can host a donation bin and in-kind donations of new socks and underwear can be dropped off at the Community Clothing Assistance location at 404 May Street North between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Donations will be accepted until Dec. 4, 2020. Monetary donations are accepted all year round and volunteers are needed to help sort and organization donations.
For more information visit the Community Clothing Assistance website.
